A blog by a man with significant sight loss and his encounters with the aid of his white stick (a long cane with a ball on the end). There is no guide dog, but the white stick can be 'anthropomorphisised'. Sometimes the white stick speaks.
If you're accessing this through a screen reader, you will need help in leaving a comment. I am now posting comments sent via Twitter in the comment section.

Thursday, 20 September 2012

Picasso and Modern British Art – The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Perceptions of the visual arts vary for visually impaired visitors. Much depends on the lighting for those with some vision, a lot depends on how busy the exhibition is and much depends on the companion for the description.The exhibition in Modern One in Edinburgh is subtley different in having a Scottish dimension as well as a more intimate set of smaller rooms.There is no interactive or audio guide so discussion is required.

We went by bus (National Galleries of Scotland run a complimentary shuttle coach service between The Mound and Modern One)We had 3 hours to tackle the Picasso in Modern One as well as the Munch Prints in Modern Two (Dean)

Exchanging my Culture Vulture ticket for a sticky label- this allows entry for the day, I was given some tips by the ticket desk. The exhibition would not be exactly the same and the room layout was quite different due to the former school buildings (John Watsons). I mentioned that the Tate had sent me the picture labels and room panels from the large print text files which I could get my screenreader to play to me.

The rooms have some 10 paintings in them and the exhibition is on two levels.The top floor is also split and I used the stairs.On the top floor I was chatting to Holly, one of the staff, about the exhibition and I was given more information about the Penrose archive.Roland Penrose was the leading art dealer of the time and the archive was held in Modern Two.Holly also mentioned the Scottish paintings.I mentioned that in 2011 one of the staff had guided me round the top floor in Modern One with items of the permanent collection.

I found the Henry Moore pieces to be more interesting this time round.This could have been as a result of different lighting on the sculpture though my vision varies throughout the day.I found myself disliking the Sutherland pictures less though still not liking the Francis Bacon paintings at all.

The notes which were taken at the time of the visit are as follows:

Gallery 3

7 paintings

Duncan Grant

Design for a Firescreen c1912

Picasso

Jars and Lemon, 1907

The two paintings are side by side on one wall.Effective.

Gallery 4

Wyndham Lewis

A Reading of Ovid (Tyros) 1920-1

I noticed this large painting in the Tate show and said at the time that I must have “seen” it before.It is a powerful painting.

Oil on Canvas

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art

Workshop c1914-5

Oil on Canvas

Tate Britain

Gallery 3

Three cornered hat

Picasso theatre sketches and prints are delightful and one can inspect the designs up close.I liked these at the Tate too.Hockney sketches and designs were triggered in my mind for later.

Note: the Penrose-MacBryde-Colquhoun works are not included in the catalogue, which has been produced by the Tate.

Picasso

The Soles, 1940

Room 20

David Hockney

An Image of Celia, 1984-6

Lithograph on Paper

Harlequin, 1980

Set for Parade, 1980

Chinese Conjuror, from Parade Triple Bill, 1980

Picasso

The Three Dancers, 1925

Modern One has an attractive café with a terrace in the sunshine.Last year my hat blew off and was rescued by another visitor.This year my hat stayed firmly on my head- these old skills learned on keeping a hat on one’s head in Edinburgh.

Time should be allowed for visiting the collections at both galleries.There is space in the grounds for outside installations and last year some works of Tony Cragg were on display here.Tony Cragg is featured in Exhibition Road Museums in London this year.

About Me

I am blind and live in London. I get about with my white stick and with the help of TfL and the general public. I have access to much that the city offers. I have very understanding friends whose patience I test regularly. I don't have a guide dog because the local authority thought it would be unfair on the dog! I get really hacked off with 'intelligent' people who treat me like a foreigner and speak loudly and clearly as if I was deaf. I hate being touched as this can be misunderstood if you're blind.
If you’re sighted and visiting this blog, feel free to comment. If you’re blind and reading this through a screen reader, I am using JAWS 12 with some unreliable Windows products. If you can share any techi advice, please do so.
I am on Twitter (@profwhitestick) and with some help from a local charity I am road testing some assistive software via Freedom Scientific.
Otherwise I’m a normal blind person and find joy in the kindness of strangers and some sadness at the inability of acquaintances to refrain from aspects of non-verbal communication. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind man.
Languages: Deutsch, Francais, beagan Gaidhlig and some Khaleeji Arabic!